Massage and aromatherapy recommendations?

So, the massage therapy program kicked off back in May. The total cost is $1833. It’s a mix of theory and hands-on practice, too. Basically, the instructors talk through everything and then demonstrate the techniques on a volunteer—which, honestly, isn't hard to find if you look around!—and after that, we just pair up and start practicing on each other.
We’re covering quite a bit: reflexology, classic massage, intuitive styles, anatomy and physiology, plus first aid, workplace safety, and even how to provide psychological support when you're in a helping profession. It’s a pretty heavy load, totaling 130 hours of classroom instruction and another 140 hours of practical work.
Regarding the reading material, the Aromatherapy Training Center provided us with some Coursera scripts to follow along with.
If there’s anything else you're curious about, I guess I can help you out.

😁 velvetwolf92 😁

I was actually thinking about looking into that family aromatherapist program... does anyone know when the next session starts or what the tuition looks like? I already have some experience with massage, so I'm not really looking to spend a ton of money there, but I'd love to dive deeper into the world of essential oils.

Wait, is this the Aromatherapy Training Center?

To be honest, I’m mostly looking into the family aromatherapist training myself, but if you're actually planning on practicing as a professional aromatherapist, you really have to knock out both programs to get there.
And yeah, Aromara is the one. You can check out their site here: www.aromara.com.
That second program is definitely more expensive, though—I think it goes through $2000.
The enrollment process basically involves signing up via a workbook.

😁 velvetwolf92 😁

Honestly, I’d mostly be doing this as a hobby. I have zero intention of making it my official job title or worrying about whether it’s officially documented in my professional records. For me, it would just be a nice way to complement the other treatments I offer. One day 😁
...

Can I ask velvetwolf92 why you actually went with Aromar?
I was looking into massage schools for aromatherapy a while back, and honestly, Aromavita seemed way more serious and rigorous—like, much more professional. Plus, it looks like you get automatic membership into the 'International Society for Professional Aromatherapists' right after you finish. Most of these schools are basically cut from the same cloth, but
So, just out of curiosity for my own future planning, what was it about Aromar that actually caught your eye?

Can anyone tell me a bit about Aromavita? I'm looking for details on their program, the pricing, and maybe even a link to their site?

P.S.
I did manage to find http://www.aromavita.net , but honestly, the Aromara program feels way more professional to me. One thing that really rubs me the wrong way about Aromavita is that they have kinesiology professors teaching the massage portion... those folks aren't actually trained for massage, let alone teaching it to others. They barely touch on massage during their college courses. Plus, when someone tries to brand themselves as a "medical" aromatherapist, it just feels super forced to me.

Does anyone have any insider info they could share? I'm still dying to know what the cost is!

PEONIJA said:Casey Palmer5, crocodiles are those spinal exercises you do lying on your back, arms spread wide, palms up. You rotate your head left and right while moving your legs to the opposite side. You follow a specific order, doing each movement 20 times from your feet all the way up to your neck. I've been doing this daily and haven't twisted anything once... my lower back doesn't even ache anymore. I think it might be some kind of Yoga, but I'm not sure. Do you know?

Sounds like it comes from Yoga. It's great for abdominal blockages and imbalances too. In a Yoga studio, they usually do it with palms down for stability. You can move dynamically or just hold the pose. An advanced version involves lying on your back, legs straight up at a right angle toward the ceiling, feet parallel to the ceiling, arms extended... then lowering the legs to one side while turning your head to the other. Relax in that position with legs lowered, head turned, then lift them back up and go to the other side, slowly.
It clears stress in the gut and eases fear. It’s calming.
Strengthens the core muscles while relaxing the spine through a "spinal twist."

Wish I could do this right now, but I ate way too much!

So, how did I actually land on choosing Aromara? Honestly, it was a bit of a headache because, in my opinion, both schools seem really solid and professional. If I had gone with Aromavit, I’d basically just be stuck doing some kind of correspondence course since I live out in Cleveland. But Aromara is based in Newport Beach, which is way more convenient for me. Plus, their curriculum feels a lot more comprehensive, even if it does cost a bit more upfront. They cover a wider variety of massage styles and put in a ton more hours. I’m not saying Aromara is objectively better—I don't really know if one is definitively superior—but I figured having classes once a month would be much better than waiting every three months like I would have if I'd picked Aromavit.
By the way, the price over at Aromavit is $2667 for the aromatherapist program.
Over at Aromara, you’ve got the aroma massage program for $1833, and then the family aromatherapist track is around $2233, though apparently there's a discount for those who finish the massage certification first. From what I can gather, those two programs are pretty much equivalent to what they offer at Aromavit.

Best,

😁 velvetwolf92 😁

I’m a certified massage therapist—fully licensed by various professional boards here in the States where I actually went to school—so if you have any questions at all, feel free to pick my brain!

Digging this thread up from the archives 🙂

Does anyone have any specific recommendations for a massage therapist who actually knows what they're doing when it comes to spinal pain? I'm looking for someone in the Cleveland area...